The Effectiveness of Shamans in an Indonesian Ritual

Abstract

Healing is the ostensible purpose of the mabolong, a shamanic ceremony of the Wana of Sulawesi, Indonesia. But the ritual serves political ends as well by providing an arena for performers to establish and maintain their reputations as shamans. Shamans' attempts to attract and to hold an audience can eclipse their efforts to heal. In light of this dynamic, the ritual's therapeutic potential for patients can be considered only when its symbolic and dramatic appeal for an entire community is understood. The interplay of symbolism, drama, and therapy is examined with special reference to theories of ritual and catharsis proposed by Lévi‐Strauss and T. J. Scheff.